The distinction recognizes those whose efforts advance science or its applications. The 13 fellows from UCI come from diverse fields of study, including chemistry, developmental and cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry. Here is a complete list of the honorees:

Bruce Blumberg is recognized for his contributions to the field of developmental biology, particularly for increasing understanding of the interactions between environmental signals and the developmental origins of disease.

Ken Cho is recognized for his additions to developmental biology, such as identifying the mechanism of Spemann's organizer and the importance of growth factor signaling during early embryogenesis.

Thomas Schilling is recognized for his work in vertebrate development that has provided insight into the formation of the nervous system and skeleton in early embryos.

Gregory Weiss is recognized for his contributions to the field of chemical biology, especially for expanding the technique of bacteriophage peptide and protein display into new interdisciplinary areas.